Electrically-operated transportation apparatus



ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRANSPORTAHON APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15\1922. 1,437,549 Patented Dec. 5, 1922,

H. S. PUTNAM.

- 2 \(l CLINVENTOR W ATTORNEY? H. s. PUTNAM. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, I922. 1 549 Patented Dec. 5, 1922.v

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ATTORNEY H s. PUTNAM. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS. APPLlCATlON FILED MAY T5, 1922. 1 zii nggg Patented Dec. 5 1922..

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BY V w ATTORNEY! H. s. PUTNAM.

ELECTRTCALLY OPERATED TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS. APPLICATTON FILED MAY 15. 1922.

L43'L549, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

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H. S. PUTNAM.

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ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRANSPORTATlON APPARATUS. APPLICA UON F\LEU MAY15. 922. 1,437,549, Patented Dec. 5,1922,

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UNITED STAT HENRY S. PUTNAllI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY b. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States, a resident of New York. in the county of New York and State of New York. have invented a certain new and useful Electrically-Operated Transportation Apparatus, of which the. following is a specification.

'l he invention has for an object to provide an apparatus of the above character wherein the principle of the induction motor may be utilized to drive the same under such condi tions that the use of contactors or collectors between the load-carrying elementsand the track or roadway as well as in the roadway itself. may be eliminated without substantially impairing the efficiency of the apparatus. In other words. the invention aims to provide a transportation apparatus sufficiently etiicient to be practicable. wherein no electrical connections need be made to the load-carrying elements. and wherein the parts of the electrical system which are electrically connected to the. power supply, may be permanently housed and adequately insulated. thus materially reducing the cost of installation and maintenance. and minimizing the risk of in ury to the apparatus or to persons who might be subjected to shock through exposed energized conductors.

In its preferred form. the invention also provides an electric drive adapted to operate a plurality of loadcarrying elements at graduated speeds. whereby passengers or goods may be received upon or discharged from the loadcarrying elements while the latter are in motion. and while one or more of such elements are traveling at substantial speeds. The preferred form of the invention may also be arranged to prevent injury to passengers or operatives in case the drive for one or more of the load-carrying elements should become inoperative; for example. by lessening the speed of or stopping the higher speeded load-carrying elements. whereby the speed changes in transferring passengers or goods from one load-carrying element to another may not be excessive under abnormal conditions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinafter contained. which. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof; such embodiment. however.

is to be consid- Application filed May 15, '1922.

'cuit making and Serial No. 561,184.

ered merely as illustrative of its principle. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing in a general way. a portion of an electrically operated transportation apparatus adapted to operate in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, but showing the appratus more as a whole.

Fig. 3 is a windingdiagram of primary windings adapted to be employed in an apparatus of the type illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing one element of the primary winding or core.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating a construction which may be used to position the primary windings of the apparatus with reference to its track or roadway.

Figs. (5 and T are respectively bottom and side views of a secondary adapted to be used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and side elevation showing a construction of car or truck which may be used as a part of the apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section showing the invention as applied to an apparatus having a plurality of load-carrying elements traveling at graduated speeds.

Fig. llv is a diagrammatic showing of electrical circuits adapted to be employed in connection with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 10.

If the principle of the induction motor be applied to a transportation apparatus wherein cars or load-carrying elements are propelled intermittently along a track like, it becomes necessary either to dispose the primary windings upon the movable cars or elements. or if the primary windings be disposed along the track, some means must be employed to cut out of circuit all portions of the primary windings which are not being used at any particular time. otherwise the apparatus becomes so ineflicient as to be impractical on account of losses of the primary windings which are uselessly energized.

In each of the above cases it thereforebecomes necessary to provide collectors or cirbreaking devices along the track either to conduct current to the primary windings on the cars in the first case. or in the second case to cut into and out of circuit the primary windings located along the track. to insure that such windings will or the I in the portions be energized when a car is passing thereover, and denergized at all other times. In the second case, it is also necessary to provide primar windings substantially at all points along t 1e track to insure that sutficient power will be available throughout the whole apparatus to propel the cars properly.

According to the present invention, the transportation apparatus provides an endless path for the l0ad-carrying element, and also extends completelv or substantially throughout the entire length of such path, the apparatus being arranged if desired to permit the transportation of passengers or goods in opposite directions from points along such apparatus; the load-carrying element is provided with a series of short C11- cuited secondaries of the induction motor type, which are subjected to the action of a shifting field created by primary windings of the induction motor type, disposed along the path of travel of the load-carrying element. Since the load-carrying element extends completely or substantially completely throughout the entire length of the apparatus, all of the rimary windings which are disposed along the track, will be at all-times inductively related to the secondaries mounted upon the load-carrying element, and thus the energy of all of the primary windings will be at all times usefully employed. It therefore becomes unnecessary to cut into and out of circuit any of the primary windings to make the apparatus practicably efficient, so the use of collectors, contactors or other forms of circuit changing devices becomes unnecessary, and the apparatus may be so constructed as to involve no exposed electrically energized arts, and it may also be permanently housed with conductors leading thereto which need not be disturbed after installation. Furthermore, since the secondaries extend substantially throughout the path along which the primary windings will e located, it is possible to employ primary windings in groups spaced along the path, but which collectively will take up only a small fraction of the length thereof, thereby decreasing to a material extent the number of windings which may be employed. The present embodiment of the invention is particularly designed to be applied to the transnortation of-passengers by means of a load carrying element in the form of a series of cars constituting a platform which moves continuously along an endless path, and in its complete form the invention includes a plurality of platforms of. the above described character moved at graduated and interrelated speedsv whereby a relatively high speed of travel may be employed for the main plat-form, while the auxiliary platform or platforms move at lower speeds, whereby the passengers or goods may be safely transferred from stations along the apparatus on to the auxiliary platforms and from thence to the highest speeded platform, without undue risk due to sudden changes in velocity. Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the general structure of an apparatus adapted to operate in accordance with the invention, and wherein the load-carrying element consists of a plurality of cars or trucks 1 which make up a moving platform running on rails 2, the rails forming an endless path for the moving platform, which latter also is illustrated as forming a complete belt extending entirely around the apparatus. As is illustrated in Fig. 2, an apparatus of the above type conveniently may be arranged to have the intermediate oppositely running portions of the platform located adjacent each other, whereby transportation in either direction is provided for intermediate points along the apparatus.

The primary windings (denoted generally by numeral 3 in Fig. l) are disposed along the track in any suitable manner, for example, as shown more in detail in Figs. 3 to v 5. Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, the primary windings are preferably mounted upon cross ties 4, which also carry the rails 2, and thus serve to fix the position of the primary windings with respect to the position of the rails. As shown, each primary winding is housed within a suitable casing 5, which also contains suitable liquid or solid insulation 6 surrounding the coils. I prefer to employ oil for insulating purposes and to cool the windings by means of a circulating system of water or the like passing through pipes (not illustrated) which extend through the various coil casings. Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically a primary winding adapted to be energized by three phase current to create a shifting field suitable for actuating the load-carrying element. The coils 7 of the windings are connected between the legs 8 and 9 of the enerthe coils 10 being connected are connected between phases 8 and 11 whereby the effect of the flux generated in the several sets of coils is to produce a field which shifts continuously, in accordance with the principle of the induction motor. The coils will be understood as set in a magnetic core which may be made up of laminations 13 containing slots 14 adapted to receive the coils. 'The primary windings are disposed along the track in groups suflicient in number to supply the desired amount of energy for moving the platform.

The cars or trucks 1 of the load-carrying element are provided with short circuited secondary windings, preferably of the squirrel cage type, so located as to come into inductive relation with the primary wind ings above described.

The load-carrying element may be proother (as illustrated in Fig. 8)

vided with a sufficient number of secondaries to insure that in all positions thereof, substantially all of the primary windings will have a secondary 'operatiively related to them. This is accomplished in the present instance by providing a secondary winding underneath each car or truck. It will. be understood that the load-carrying element 1 need not form an entirely complete belt so long as a suflicient number of secondaries are provided to keep the primary windings performing useful work in substantially all positions of the moving platform.

The short circuited secondaries may be composed of laminations having slots 16 therein adapted to receive short-circuited secondary 17 which will usually be in the form of a continuous copper plate or copper bars with their ends electrically joined.

It is also preferable to connect together the adjacent secondaries, by means of flexible jumpers 18 (Fig. 6) in order to increase the efiiciency.

The present form of car or truck (illustrated more in detail in Figs. 1, 8 and 9), is provided with a longitudinal supporting member 19 carrying at one end an axle 20 which supports the wheels 21, and at its other end said supporting member carries a coupling adapted to be connected to the axle 20 of an adjacent car; in the present in stance this coupling takes the form of plates 22 and 23 (Fig. 9) adapted to be positioned respectively above and below the axle 20 of an adjacent car, and a pin 24 extending through the members 20. 22 and 23 to form a pivot between adjacent cars. The floors of the cars are provided with a circularly curved projecting portion at one end of the car, and a similarly recessed portion at the thus permitting the cars to move angularly relative to each other as indicated in Fig. 2, and nevertheless maintaining a continuous platform in all positions. The secondaries are clamped in position underneath the cars, so

as to fix their position relative. to the wheels; and thus since the position of the primary windings is fixed with relation to the rails 2, it is possible to maintain the air gap constant, even though the rails may shift their position after the apparatus is installed.

In its complete form, the invention comprise a plurality of moving platforms, each of the nature above described, and disposed contiguous to each other, wherebypassengers or goods may be transferred from one platform to the other. As is illustrated in Fig. 10, three platforms may be employed, the same being denoted generally by numerals 25, 26' and 27, and driven at speeds, for example, of three, six and nine miles per hour respectively. Thus passengers entering from or alighting upon the station 28 hour.

adjacent platform will be subjected to but a gradual change in velocity in passing between the station and the highspeeded platform 27. If the apparatus is to be designed especially for carrying passengers, the platforms 2?) and 26 may be provided with posts 29 to be grasped by the passengersin moving back and forth, while the platform 27 may carry seats 30 of any suitable type. The desired speeds of the several platforms may be readily obtained from one electrical power system either by variation in the distance between pole pieces of the primary windings or by using different frequencies for operating the several platforms. Fig. 11, for example, indicates diagrammatically a section of a transportation apparatus wherein the moving platforms 25, 26 and 27 are operated at the desired speeds by means of a motor 31 of any suitable type driving the polyphascv genrators 32, 33 and 34 to produce current, for example, at 20 cycles, cycles and cycles respectively. The cables 35, 36 and 37 indicated in Fig. 11 as leading respectively from the generators 32, 33, and 34 will each be understood as carrying the several phases of its corresponding generator, although the separate conductors similar to conductors 8, 9 and 11 previously mentioned are not independently shown, for simplicity. The primary windings of platforms 25. 26 and 27 are connected respectively to cables 35, 36 and 37 through the conductors 38, 39 and 40, and other parts herein below described.

In an apparatus of the above character, if platform 25 or 26 should become inoperative, there would be a risk of injury to passengers who might under such conditions attempt to enter upon or alight from the plat form 27 if the latter should continue to be moved at its normal speed. It is therefore preferred to arrange the device in such a way that the speed of the higher speeded platforms is reduced, or the latforms stopped, under such conditions, an Fig. 11 illustrates a system of switches interlocked to produce the above results; such systems however, 'should be considered merely as typical.

In this figure the switches 41, 42 and 43 may be manually closed to make circuit between the conductors 38, 39 and 40 and their respective primary windings. To Start the apparatus, a further hand switch 44 will be closed, energizing magnet 45. and closings.

further switch 46 interposed in the conductor 38. Platform 25 then starts to move, for example, at a velocity of 3 miles per A further hand switch 47 will then be closed energizing magnet 48 and closing switch 49, thus making circuit from c-onductor 38, through a further conductor 50 to the primary windings of platform 26. and starting the platform 26 at 3 miles per hour. In similar manner a further hand switch 51 may be closed to start the platform 27 at 23 miles per hour. .\fter the several platforn' s have attained the speed of 3 miles per hour. hand control switch 52- may be closed. thus opening relay 52 which breaks circuit to relay 48 which operates switch 49 and closes circuit through a. retarded relay 53. closing switch 54 to make circuit from conductor 39 to the primary windings of platform 26 and eccelerating the speed of said platform to (3 miles. It is important. however. that platform 26 should not be operated at 6 miles per hour unless platforms 25 and 27 are both in operation; in order to accomplish this result the circuit of magnet 53 is not completed unless the auxiliary contacts 55 of a switch 56. or the auxiliary contacts 57 of a switch 58 controlling circuit to the platform 27. are closed as well as the auxiliary contacts 59 and (50 respectively associated with switches 41 and 43 previously described. and the auxiliary contacts 62 associated with Switch 46. thus making sure that the platforn'is 25 and 21' are in operation. the latter either at 3 or 5) miles per hour.

In a similar manner the speed of platform 27 may be increased to 5) miles per hour by closing a hand-control switch 63. The clos ing of thisswitch opens a relay 64 similar to relay 52'' previously described. and closes circuit through a further relay 65 similar to relay-"'53. thus drawing up switch 58 and supplying power at 60 cycles to the platform 27, but only if the auxiliary contacts 66 associated with switch 42. the auxiliary contacts 67 associated .with switch 41 and the contacts 68 associated with switch 54. are all closed, thus insuring forms 25 and 26 are operating at their normal speeds before platform 27 is brought up to its normal speed.

In case of derangement in the circuits controlling platform 25. switch 41 will be tripped open either by the underload release coil 69. or the overload coil 70. thus opening auxiliary contacts 60 and the circuit to relay 52. causing the relay to drop and closing relay 48 to supply 20. cycle current to the platform 26.-and operating the Same at 3 miles an hour. l nder these conditions the relay 53 is deenergized causing switch 54 to open and cut off the supply of the 40 cycle currentto platform 26. Opening of auxiliary contacts 67 under the above conditions also deenergizes relays 64 and 65. energizes the relay 71 to close switch 56, cutting off the supply of 50 cycle current to platform 27. and operates this platform at 3 miles per hour by 20 cycle current supplied through switch 56.

In case of short circuit or mechanical trouble in connection with the platform 26 operating at 6 miles per hour. switch 42 will be opened by the overload release coil that the plat- 74. thus stopping the platform; but in case of failure of the power supply on 4.0 cycle circuit. switch 42 will not be affected although the no-voltage relay 73 will drop. thus dcenergizing magnet 53 and opening switch 54 and relay 52. Relay 46 will then be energized connecting the primary coils of platform 26 to the 20 cycle power supply. \Yhen switch 54. is opened as above described. auxiliary contacts (38 open and deenergize the relay (35 which controls switch 58. at the same time causing relay 4 to drop and make circuit through relay T1. thus closing switch 56 and shifting platform 27 from the ()0 cycle current supply to the 20 cycle supply. causing the platform to operate at 3 miles per hour.

In case of short circuit or mechanical trouble in the (30 cycle circuit. the overload release coil 75 trips switch 43 and platform 27 is stopped. auxiliary contacts 59 also being opened; the opening of these contacts deenergizes the relays 52 and 53. thus opening switch 54 to cut off the supply of 40 cycle current to platform 26 and shifting this platform to the 20 cycle current supply by the closing of switch 49. In case of the failure of the power supply in the 60 cycle current. no-voltage relay 7c is dropped. deenergizing the relays (34 and (35 and energizing relay Tl: this shifts the platform 27 on to the 20 cycle current supply. and operates such platform at 3 miles per hour. Under these conditions either one or the other of the auxiliary contacts 55 and 57 will be closed. so that the circuits including relays 5?, and 48 will be unaffected by the shifting of platform 27 to the 3 mile speed. Thus platform 26 will continue to operate at 6 miles per hour.

In case the 20 cycle current supply. which drives the lowest speedcd load-carrying element should fail. the no-voltage release coils (39.72 and 77 will trip switches 41. 42 and 43. thus stopping the apparatus as a whole.

\Vhile a specific embodiment of the invention has been described. it will be obvious that many changes may be made there in without departing from its spirit. as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electrically operated transportation apparatus comprising means for guiding a load-carrying element along an endless path. a load-carrying element extending substantially throughout the length of such path. fixed primary windings adapted to create a shifting field and located at intervals along such path. and secondaries of the induction motor type extending substantially throughout the entire length of such load-carrying element. and carried thereby in inductive relation to the primary windings, together with means for continuously energizing all of said primary windings.

2. An electrically operated transportation apparatus comprising an endless track, a

lurality of cars carried by said track and occupying substantially the entire length thereof, primary windings adapted to create a shifting field disposed at intervals along the track, and secondaries of the induction motor type mounted on said cars in inductive relation to said primary windings, together with means for continuously enerizing all of said primary windings.

3. An electrically operated transportation apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacent load-carrying elements, cooperating primary windings and short-circuited secondaries respectively associated with said load-carrying elements, and electrical circuits leading to said respective primary windings to create therein fields moving at graduated. speeds.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein such electrical circuits operate at different frequencies.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein such electrical circuits operate at difierent frequencies, and switching devices are interlocked between the circuits to change the frequency impressed upon one of said circuits upon abnormal conditions in another of said circuits.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein such circuits are operated at different frequencies but switching devices are provided to start the circuits which normally operate at higher frequencies at a lower frequency.

7. A transportation apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacent load-carrying elements, means for driving said elements at different speeds, and means for reducing the speed of one of said elements when the drive for another of said elements becomes inoperative.

8. A transportation apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacent load-carrying elements, means for driving said elements at different speeds, changing the speed of one of said elements upon change in speed of another of said elements.

and automatic means for 9. A transportation apparatus mmprising a plurality of adjacent load-carrying elements, means for drivingsaid elements at different speeds, and automatic means whereby all of the load-carrying elements are stopped in case the drive for the lowest speeded clement becomes inoperative.

10. An electrically operated transportas tion system comprising a load-carrying element, means for guiding the same along a path, primary windings and secondaries of the induction motor type associated with said path and element to drive said element, and means for changing the speed of said load-carrying element. said last-mentioned means being constituted by devices for changing the frequency of the current in pressed on certain of said primary windings.

11. An electrically operated transportation apparatus comprising a plurality of load carrying elements so located as to follow adjacent endless paths, said load carrying element extendin substantially throughout the entire lengths of their respective paths. electrical circuits respectively associated with such load carrying elements and provided with means to drive the same and means for controlling the characteristics of said circuits to move the load carrying elements at predetermined speed ratios.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 together with means for changing the speed of one of said elements upon change in speed of another of said elements.

13. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein means is provided for shifting a higher speed load carrying element into association with an electrical circuit creating a field moving at a lower speed.

14. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein means is provided for shifting a higher speed load carrying element into association with an electrical circuit creating a field moving at a lower speed upon abnormal circuit conditions in one of said circuits.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of May, 1922.

, HENRY S. PUTNAM, 

